words come out. Instead, she changed the subject. “I can’t believe that your taking up for Jerrod after the day we’ve had. You don’t even like kids!”
“Yeah, I know.” Alex shrugged. “Go figure. Maybe I’m trying to make points with the kid in order to get close to his sexy mom.”
Lacey laughed until she opened the back door and saw her somber son, still sitting at the kitchen table.
“Mom, there’s a few things I want to say before you start in on me,” Jerrod began. “I know I was a jerk, and I hurt your feelings. I’m sorry I made you cry. And I’m not saying that ’cause of Mr. Benson. I mean it. You’re the greatest mom ever.”
“Thanks Jerrod.” Lacey sat in the chair across from him. “You know, Mr. Benson and I were friends from the time we were just babies. We went to school together, and then he went into the Navy. Now that he’s back, I’d like to spend some time with him. I was hoping to show him what great kids I’ve got, but that hasn’t worked out very well today. He reminded me, outside, that you’ve had a pretty bad day. He offered to come back next weekend so he can help with your work. He seems to think you’re a pretty tough guy. I guess I hadn’t realized how much you’re growing up, but make no mistake, you were wrong to talk to me the way you did. I was also wrong to hit you and I’m sorry. Now, if you give me a big hug, I just might cut that pie.”
****
Alex hadn’t followed Lacey inside. She’d needed time to straighten things out with her boy. But he’d been leaning against the siding under the kitchen window and heard their conversation. He straightened to walk around to the door.
Lacey was a hell of a mom. He actually wished he had a home and family like this one. Who was he kidding? He wanted this one. He decided there and then, he was going to marry Lacey Carlyle, kids and all. This is what had been missing from his life.
Chapter Eight
Lacey couldn’t sleep. She’d hardly slept all week. She’d never had an overnight guest in her house past the age of twelve. Knowing Alex lay sleeping on her sofa brought back too many memories. She thought back to that June, so long ago, when they’d swim in the lake and then make love like there’d be no tomorrow. Then he’d nap on the blanket in the grass. She’d watch him breathe and memorized ever inch of his long lean body. She’d been completely fascinated by his masculine form. He’d been her first, and even though she’d lacked experience, he’d been her best. Perhaps her subconscious had known he’d be gone from her life too soon.
She still couldn’t believe he was back. It was like walking into a dream. She didn’t have to resist him, she was a grown woman, and heaven knows she had needs, needs he’d awakened in her. But how could she be sure he’d still be here the next day? The old memories were bad enough. She couldn’t stand to miss him like that again.
Lacey stepped out of her room. It was the only bedroom on the left side of the stairs. The second bedroom on that side had been converted into an upstairs bathroom by the Garveys.
She tiptoed to the other side to check on the twins.
Jenna was sound asleep. Lacey had a theory that the girl expended so much energy during the day she had to have a full night’s sleep to recharge. Her system would shut down by ten and wouldn’t reboot until six in the morning.
Jerrod, on the other hand, was restless. He’d toss and turn until his sheets were in a knot on the floor. She supposed his energy was infinite. Earlier in the night, she’d heard him get up a few times and walk down the stairs and back. Now, he was finally sleeping as well.
When she passed the top of the stairs, to return to her own room, she heard a strange noise from below. It sounded like a growl. The dogs never slept inside. Could some other animal have gotten into the house? She followed the sound down the stairs and into the living room.
She hadn’t wanted to see
“Yeah, I know.” Alex shrugged. “Go figure. Maybe I’m trying to make points with the kid in order to get close to his sexy mom.”
Lacey laughed until she opened the back door and saw her somber son, still sitting at the kitchen table.
“Mom, there’s a few things I want to say before you start in on me,” Jerrod began. “I know I was a jerk, and I hurt your feelings. I’m sorry I made you cry. And I’m not saying that ’cause of Mr. Benson. I mean it. You’re the greatest mom ever.”
“Thanks Jerrod.” Lacey sat in the chair across from him. “You know, Mr. Benson and I were friends from the time we were just babies. We went to school together, and then he went into the Navy. Now that he’s back, I’d like to spend some time with him. I was hoping to show him what great kids I’ve got, but that hasn’t worked out very well today. He reminded me, outside, that you’ve had a pretty bad day. He offered to come back next weekend so he can help with your work. He seems to think you’re a pretty tough guy. I guess I hadn’t realized how much you’re growing up, but make no mistake, you were wrong to talk to me the way you did. I was also wrong to hit you and I’m sorry. Now, if you give me a big hug, I just might cut that pie.”
****
Alex hadn’t followed Lacey inside. She’d needed time to straighten things out with her boy. But he’d been leaning against the siding under the kitchen window and heard their conversation. He straightened to walk around to the door.
Lacey was a hell of a mom. He actually wished he had a home and family like this one. Who was he kidding? He wanted this one. He decided there and then, he was going to marry Lacey Carlyle, kids and all. This is what had been missing from his life.
Chapter Eight
Lacey couldn’t sleep. She’d hardly slept all week. She’d never had an overnight guest in her house past the age of twelve. Knowing Alex lay sleeping on her sofa brought back too many memories. She thought back to that June, so long ago, when they’d swim in the lake and then make love like there’d be no tomorrow. Then he’d nap on the blanket in the grass. She’d watch him breathe and memorized ever inch of his long lean body. She’d been completely fascinated by his masculine form. He’d been her first, and even though she’d lacked experience, he’d been her best. Perhaps her subconscious had known he’d be gone from her life too soon.
She still couldn’t believe he was back. It was like walking into a dream. She didn’t have to resist him, she was a grown woman, and heaven knows she had needs, needs he’d awakened in her. But how could she be sure he’d still be here the next day? The old memories were bad enough. She couldn’t stand to miss him like that again.
Lacey stepped out of her room. It was the only bedroom on the left side of the stairs. The second bedroom on that side had been converted into an upstairs bathroom by the Garveys.
She tiptoed to the other side to check on the twins.
Jenna was sound asleep. Lacey had a theory that the girl expended so much energy during the day she had to have a full night’s sleep to recharge. Her system would shut down by ten and wouldn’t reboot until six in the morning.
Jerrod, on the other hand, was restless. He’d toss and turn until his sheets were in a knot on the floor. She supposed his energy was infinite. Earlier in the night, she’d heard him get up a few times and walk down the stairs and back. Now, he was finally sleeping as well.
When she passed the top of the stairs, to return to her own room, she heard a strange noise from below. It sounded like a growl. The dogs never slept inside. Could some other animal have gotten into the house? She followed the sound down the stairs and into the living room.
She hadn’t wanted to see
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